The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-04
DISCUSSING THE .FIND."

Increased and Universal Interest In the
Gas observation-disclosures Denny's Advice.
The city last night was excited. Bright
wood had struck gas Everybody was dis
cussiDg the fact. In hotels, social gather
ings and prayer meetings il was the
principal topic OF conversation.
Judge Martindale was at the Denison
House, which seemed to be the headquar-
tiers for gas men. On being asked what he
thought of the find" he turned ques-
toner and asked what the latest report was
from the gas field.
ga column of blaze fifteen feet high and
q boomin'."
''That SO? Well I've been thinking that
gas could be found nearer than NoblesVille,
and have always said that gas would never
be piped from that place. I've stated that
all along. If the report is half true it DEM
onstrates that there is gas near Us, which is
as good as if it were found right here in
the city.
"Of course the well at Brightwood will
not supply Indianapolis" said the Judge,
but wells will be bored all along the river
from Broad Ripple until enough are dug to
supply the city"
f'Major Calkins. what is your opinion of
the gas well at Brightwood?" the reporter
asked.
''WeII, it will give greater stability to the
real estate boom. AS far as our company
in concerned, it is more a matter for en-
couragement than discouragement. We
have an equal chance with the other COM
panies on the principle that we can dig as
many wells as they can. We are waiting
to see what the City Council will do. There
are no new developments and this report
OF gas at Brightwood does not affect us"
Mayor Denny was asked by Sentinel
reporter for his opinion ON the question of
gas for Indianapolis. He said:
eff we are unable to find it in sufficient
quantities at home, and it becomes neces-
sary to pipe it in, / am in favor of passing
general ordinance admitting all compa-
mics upon an equality. / would also adj
wise that all should be restricted to the use
of the alleys wherever it is at all possible,
and not be allowed to cut up the streets
unless absolutely unavoidable.
"As to the matter of compensation for
the city, while l would not be in favor of
burdening any company with an exor-
bitant tax, vet think the city should re-
ceive something for an important fran
chise like that. / understand that Chi
cago for the past five years has had all her
viaducts and bridges built by corporations
receiving franchises. do not see why In
dianapolis should not receive compensa-
ton of some sort for the same kind of priv
ileges."
Director Charles Cooper and Smith H.
Myers, principal stockholders in the
Twelfth street well, were at the Denison
Hotel last evening, and Mr.. Cooper stated
that at last tools would be ready to extri-
cate the lost drill by tomorrow afternoon,
and that boring would then again begin
until some result was reached. The well, as
measured yesterday, is exactly 410 feet in
depth, and by active work Monday
evening would show whether or not gas
was in mother earth IL that vicinity in
sufficient quantity to make any sort of
showing. He was very cheerful over the
prospects, arguing that the discovery at
Brightwood only convinced him the more
that gas would be struck at Twelfth street.
and "struck big" He had maintained all
the time that Brightwood would show up,
but with what force was an uncertainty.
He thinks that on Tuesday morning
people will wake up and begin to realize
the greatness of Indianapolis.
Mr.. Mansfield, of the Standard Company,
had not the slightest appearance of worry
when approached by a Sentinel man last
evening. and remarked that he knew how
such things were. you could bore almost
snywhere," said he, land if you reach a
sufficient depth, and salt water does not
show, you will get natural gas In a weak,
mild form, but the thing Is to get it in
such volume and with such force as to be
able to utilize it by piping to consumers
and force IL up INTO dwellings, ana manu-
featuring concerns. The find at Bright.
wood indicates nothing in particular ex-
ceptIng that gas is probably nearer Indi-
annapolis than Noblesville, but whether or
not it is as strong as at that place is another
question"
The Standard Company has pursued
its surveys and investigations and the con-
clusion has been reached by them that q
good quality and quantity could in all
probability be found at distance not to
exceed twelve miles north of indianapolis.
DO you think of boring any other
wells, Mr.. Mansfield"
mo, sir. The supply at NoblesviIle is
certainly sufficient to supply all the gas
we can furnish to consumers If satisfactory
arrangements can be made to get into this
city, and naturally there would be no
reason in experimenting elsewhere and
| spending the hundreds OF dollars which
each successive boring costs"
rs your company doing anything al
present in the way OF furthering its pros
| pectsP'
Nothing -hatever. There is nothing
to do but await the action of the City
Council. We are merely resting to see
what is to be done. 1t will take a few
days after that even to begin the work oil
piping, and II a franchise is not given, oil
course we will not do anything for some
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